Chris Andrews (singer)

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Chris Andrews
Chris Andrews performing in Germany (2010)
Chris Andrews performing in Germany (2010)
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Frederick Andrews
Born (1942-10-15) 15 October 1942 (age 81)
OriginRomford, Essex, England
GenresPop music
Occupation(s)Songwriter, singer, producer
Years active1960s–present
LabelsDecca
Websitechris-andrews.net

Christopher Frederick "Chris" Andrews (born 15 October 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, whose musical career started in the late 1950s.[1][2][3]

Career

Andrews was born in Romford, Essex, England, and by his mid teens had formed his own group, Chris Ravel and the Ravers,[4] and was playing at Soho venues which included the 2i's Coffee Bar and Flamingo Nightclub.[citation needed] On 14 March 1959, he made his British television debut, performing on the Oh, Boy! show. He would later return in April to perform a cover of Cliff Richard's, "Move It".

For Adam Faith, Andrews wrote "The First Time"[5] (No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, 1963)[6] and "We Are in Love" (No. 11, 1964),[6] and then a string of hits for Sandie Shaw. They included "Girl Don't Come" (No. 3, 1964/65), "I'll Stop at Nothing" (No. 4, 1965), "Message Understood" (No. 6, 1965) and "Long Live Love" (No. 1, 1965).[4] The latter remained a chart topper in the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.[7] "Girl Don't Come" was covered by Cher on her debut album, All I Really Want to Do.[8]

Also in 1965, Andrews as a solo artist, got to No. 3 in the same listings with "Yesterday Man",[9] which peaked in Germany at No. 1 for four weeks;[10] followed up with a No. 13 hit in the UK "To Whom It Concerns".[7] The instrumental section of this song was used as the theme for RTÉ's long-running TV programme, the Late Late Show, until 1999, and a re-arranged version returned as the show's theme music in September 2009.[2] As well as obtaining a high placing in the UK chart with "Yesterday Man", it also climbed to No. 1 in Ireland and Germany. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[5] Later releases were not as successful, but his own hits are seen as early examples of reggae influenced white pop music. Although his chart appearances dwindled in Britain by 1966, his chart topping success continued in mainland Europe for a number of years, particularly in Germany, and Andrews often recorded in foreign languages.[1]

In South Africa, his later single releases proved particularly popular,[11] with "Pretty Belinda" (1969), "Carol OK" and "Brown Eyes" (both 1970) all topping the charts there. "Yo Yo" reached No. 7 at the end of 1970.

Andrews remains active in his career as a singer-songwriter, working primarily in continental Europe and in the United Kingdom. He lives with his second wife Alexandra, who is also his manager, in Germany and Spain.

Songwriting credits

Discography

Singles

Year Title UK[7] AU Label
1965 "Yesterday Man" #3 #12 Decca
1965 "To Whom It Concerns" #13 #11 Decca
1966 "Something on My Mind" #41 - Decca
1966 "What'cha Gonna Do Now?" #40 - Decca
1966 "Stop That Girl" #36 - Decca

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Unterberger, Richie (15 October 1942). "Chris Andrews – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Chris Andrews". IMDb.com database. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  3. ^ His birthdate is sometimes stated as 1938, notably in Larkin, C., Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN 0-7535-0149-X
  4. ^ a b Larkin C Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music, (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN 0-7535-0149-X) p13
  5. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 186. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  6. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 193. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 495. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. Cite error: The named reference "British Hit Singles & Albums" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Sendra, Tim. "All I Really Want to Do – Cher : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  9. ^ Nugent, Stephen, Anne Fowler, Pete Fowler: Chart Log of American/British Top 20 Hits, 1955–1974. In: Gillett, Charlie, Simon Frith (ed.): Rock File 4. Frogmore, St. Albans: Panther Books, 1976, p. 70
  10. ^ Ehnert, Günter (ed.): Hit Bilanz. Deutsche Chart Singles 1956–1980. Hamburg: Taurus Press, 1990, p. 17
  11. ^ Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (A)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Chris Andrews – Songs". AllMusic. 15 October 1942. Retrieved 5 January 2013.

External links

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